Hot Topics:

Know how to repair a smartphone? Assurant wants to speak with you

Assurant Solutions plans to hire more than 100 workers before the end of the year.

By SEAN ADKINS

Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
10/07/2013 08:17:19 PM EDT

David Bentley works on a mobile phone during his training at Assurant Solutions in Manchester Township. The company, a cell phone repair company, plans to hire more than 100 workers by the end of the year. (Jason Plotkin - York Daily Record/Sunday News)

York, PA -

Assurant Solutions needs to hire more than 100 workers by the end of year, and the company isn't waiting for interested applicants to trickle through its front door.

Hundreds of job seekers are expected to visit the Manchester Township repair and refurbishment business on Wednesday and Thursday, to take part in Assurant's two-day job fair, said Laurence R. Etchison, director of human resources of Assurant Solutions Mobile Service.

The firm is part of Assurant, a Fortune 500 company that provides specialized insurance products across the nation and in select international markets.

Eddie Toro works on a mobile phone during his training at Assurant Mobile Services in Manchester Township. The company, an underwriter for cell phone repair, plans to hire nearly 200 workers be the end of the year. Those jobs are for wireless technicians and electro mechanical handlers. (Jason Plotkin - York Daily Record/Sunday News)

"The mobile services industry is just experiencing phenomenal growth, worldwide," he said. "We provide mobile device protection for our customers. We are in a growth mode here at our York facility."

In 2011, the U.S. was home to 316 million wireless connections, or active devices such as smartphones and tablets, according to CTIA-The Wireless Association.

The organization is a nonprofit group that represents the nation's wireless communication industry.

One year later, the number of active devices had jumped to 326.4 million connections, according to the association.

And, thanks to the area's large bank of manufacturing workers, Assurant isn't expecting any trouble filling its open positions.

In August, York County employed 31,400 manufacturing workers - down from 31,900 jobs a year earlier, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

"We find that the manufacturing background found in this area transitions very well to the types of skills we are looking for from our associates," Etchison said.

Danari Virella works on a mobile phone during her training at Assurant Mobile Services in Manchester Township on Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. The company, an underwriter for cell phone repair, plans to hire nearly 200 workers be the end of the year. Those jobs are for wireless technicians and electro mechanical handlers. (Jason Plotkin - York Daily Record/Sunday News)

So, what type of jobs is Assurant Solutions offering?

The company is looking to hire electro mechanical assemblers, wireless technicians, material handlers and inspectors for its second shift that lasts from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Etchison said.

An assembler, for example, diagnoses and repairs cell phones, primarily smartphones, he said.

The company requires all workers to have a high school diploma or equivalent.

"We're looking for folks who can work with small tools and can follow both written and video directions." Etchison said. "The should have good hand and eye coordination."

If you go

Assurant Solutions will host a job fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at 625 Willow Springs Lane in Manchester Township.
The company handles the repair and refurbishment of mobile devices, primarily smartphones.

Assurant is looking to hire electro mechanical assemblers, wireless technicians, material handlers and inspectors for its second shift that lasts from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.